In 2004, the Motorway Company of the Republic of Slovenia (DARS) initiated the construction of the Šentvid-Koseze tunnel, along with additional buildings and structures necessary for its safe operation.
Project Name: Urban park Šentvid
Studio Name: dba
Location: Ljubljana, Šentvid
Building area: 1420 m
Project date: 2004
Status: Built in 2010,
Architect: Damjan Bradaö
Lanscape architect: Matej Kuöina , Bruto
These include portal areas, power stations, the reconstruction and extension of the existing gallery, deviation of Celovška Street, a pumping station, a low-voltage station, and a fire barrier. The total length of the two tunnel tubes, which link the Ljubljana ring road with the highway towards the Gorenjska region, is 1,060 meters (1,460 meters, including both new and old galleries). Two approach tunnels, each 84 meters long, provide access to and from Celovška Street, with connections via four bridges.
Due to its unique location within the city, the portal area of the Šentvid-Koseze tunnel is, by definition, an integral part of the urban landscape, where various communication layers and buildings necessary for the tunnel’s operation are intricately interwoven. Architecture plays a small but significant role in the project, mainly due to its visibility.
The scenography of the entrance to the tunnel is defined by the architectural design of the portals, which represent all underground structures that are otherwise invisible to the average observer. The main challenge was creating an urban space engaging the interest of car passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The project received the Golden Pencil award from the Architectural Chamber of Slovenia.
